'You can go anywhere with this degree': Leech Lake Tribal College highlights STEM education, careers

CASS LAKE -- As a crowd of excited onlookers craned their necks to follow its course, a small rocket accelerated into the evening sky. The rocket gave off a puff of smoke as its parachute deployed and it tumbled back to earth, a gaggle of children running to catch it before it landed roughly in the grass.

The rocket was one of a pair launched by students and staff at Leech Lake Tribal College’s “Across the Universe,” a second-annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math that staff there hope will entice children and prospective students, especially those belonging to ethnic minorities, to consider educations and careers in those disciplines.

“That's where the good jobs lie, and that's where the need lies if you're going to protect and be the caretakers of your own tribal resources,” said Cate Belleveau, the school’s STEM outreach director and one of the event’s organizers. “Sometimes you get a little ignored when it’s just indigenous wisdom...when you can also have the science background and the research background, that’s another powerful blend.”

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/education/4151733-you-can-go-anywhere-degree-leech-lake-tribal-college-highlights-stem